Nick Clegg gets seven ‘spies’ to keep eye on Tory ministers

The deputy prime minister has hired Lib Dem special advisers to work in Whitehall departments led by high-ranking Conservative MPs

Advisers hired by Nick Clegg are thought to have angered Theresa May (David Cheskin)

Nick Clegg has secured a string of new special advisers after claiming his ministers are under-represented in Whitehall.

The deputy prime minister is hiring seven political operatives to work in government departments led by Conservative cabinet ministers.

Clegg successfully argued his case in Downing Street, citing an academic report suggesting that his party is being outgunned over policy by the Tories because it does not have sufficient clout in Whitehall.

The report warned that the coalition could start to fracture if the deputy prime minister and his ministerial colleagues were not provided with extra help and resources to cope with the amount of information and paperwork in government.

However, the prospect of the new special advisers, nicknamed spads, has angered Conservative ministers, particularly Theresa May, the home secretary, who has indicated to Downing Street that she is uncomfortable about a Liberal Democrat apparachik being given access to her paperwork.